IFAB Rule Changes To Speed Up Game

Football’s lawmakers have unveiled a significant package of reforms aimed at cutting time-wasting and improving match tempo, with the changes set to debut at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and roll out across all competitions worldwide.

The decisions were approved at the 140th Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board (IFAB), held in Hensol, Wales. The meeting was chaired by Mike Jones, President of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), during the association’s 150th anniversary year.

Countdown Introduced for Throw-Ins and Goal Kicks

Building on recent efforts to curb goalkeepers from holding onto the ball for excessive periods, IFAB has extended a visible countdown system to throw-ins and goal kicks.

If a referee believes a restart is being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will begin. Failure to put the ball back into play before the countdown expires will result in possession being handed to the opposition, a reversed throw-in or, in the case of a delayed goal kick, a corner kick awarded.

The measure is designed to protect effective playing time and address growing frustration among stakeholders about tempo disruption.

Stricter Substitution Timelines

Substituted players will now be required to leave the pitch within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed, or upon the referee’s signal where no board is used.

If a player fails to exit within that timeframe, they must still leave the field, but their replacement will not be allowed to enter until the first stoppage after one minute of play has elapsed on a running clock. The move aims to eliminate prolonged walk-offs that slow momentum late in matches.

Mandatory One-Minute Off-Field Period for Injured Players

Under the new protocol, any player who receives on-field assessment for an injury, or whose injury stops play, must leave the field and remain off for at least one minute once play restarts. The measure targets tactical stoppages that disrupt rhythm while ensuring medical checks can still be conducted safely.

VAR Protocol Expanded

The AGM also approved key updates to the Video Assistant Referee system. VAR will now be permitted to intervene in cases of:

• Red cards resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card
• Mistaken identity where the wrong player is sanctioned
• Clearly incorrect corner-kick decisions, provided the review can be completed immediately without delaying the restart

IFAB also agreed to trial further measures addressing goalkeeper tactical injury delays.

Laws of the Game 2026/27 Amendments

The next edition of the Laws of the Game, effective from 1 July 2026, will include several additional changes:

• Senior ‘A’ international friendlies may allow up to eight substitutes, with mutual agreement permitting as many as 11
• Non-dangerous items will be allowed if safely covered
• Referee body cameras may be introduced as a competition option
• Clarifications on dropped-ball restarts
• Updated guidance on accidental “double touches” from penalty takers
• No caution for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity if advantage is played and a goal is scored

Consultations will also begin on measures addressing players leaving the field in protest and players covering their mouths during confrontations.

Offside trials will continue, alongside development updates on semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and the FIFA-led Football Video Support (FVS) trial.

A Modernising Step for the Global Game

Representatives from FIFA, The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the FAW, the Irish Football Association, and IFAB administration attended the meeting.

With these reforms, IFAB has taken one of its most decisive steps in recent years, signalling a clear intent to make the modern game faster, fairer and less susceptible to disruption ahead of football’s biggest global showcase in 2026.

_{Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Gonzalo Arizpe, Pexels / Gabriel Passos}